The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Greens want national anti-corruption body

The uncovering of allegedly corrupt Customs officers should be a catalyst for the establishment of a national anti-corruption commission, the Australian Greens say.

It was revealed on Thursday that eight people have been arrested in connection with alleged corruption and drug importation involving Customs and quarantine officers.

More arrests are expected as the full extent of the cell is uncovered.

Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare announced the federal government would establish a Customs Reform Board to provide him with advice and recommendations on how to bolster integrity in Customs and Border Protection.

The board members will be "Australia's best corruption hunter", former royal commission head Justice James Wood, former NSW police commissioner Ken Moroney, and former TNT CEO David Mortimer.

Acting Greens leader Adam Bandt said the board was "a nice idea" but it was time for a national anti-corruption body - especially given the revelations about Customs follow investigations into a bribery scandal involving the Reserve Bank.

"Why not have someone like Justice James Wood heading a national corruption fighting body, instead of merely making recommendations some time down the track?" he said in a statement.